Water ski tow rope attachment



July 18, 1961 Filed March 5, 1959 A. B. BERTELSON, JR 2,992,624

WATER SKI 'row ROPE ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Adolph B. Eerie/son, Jr.

IN VEN TOR.

BY 2mm July 18, 1961 A. B. BERTELSON, JR 2,992,624

WATER SKI TOW ROPE ATTACHMENT Filed March 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IIIII Adolph B. Berta/son, J1:

1N VEN TOR.

Y WWW United States Patent 2,992,624 WATER SKI TOW ROPE ATTACHMENT Adolph B. Bertelson, Jr., 303 1st Ave. SW., Cut Bank, Mont. Filed Mar. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 797,512 11 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) This invention relates to a novel and useful water ski tow rope attachment and more particularly to a device which will assist a water skier while a towing motor boat is moved into position to pull the skier from the water.

Heretofore, while the sport of water skiing is becoming more popular every day, many inconveniences encountered by a water skier have remained a problem. Probably the most bothersome problem experienced by a water skier is that the tow rope, being of considerable length (75 feet or more) is very easily entangled. If this is not discovered until after the skier has entered the water, there is an unnecessarily long delay while someone in the boat untangles the tow rope. This in many cases has a tiring effect upon the water skier who, because he is hampered by having water skis attached to both feet, finds it very difiicult to keep himself properly oriented in the water.

Another inconvenience encountered by water skiers occurs when the operator of the towing boat does not know before he is about to take up all the slack in the tow rope. If the boat is moving more than two or three miles an hour when the slack in the tow line is taken up, it is not unusual for the handle on the end of the rope to be snatched from the grasp of the water skier who is waiting in the water. If this occurs, since it is extremely diflicult to make any progress in swimming through the water with water skis attached to the feet, the boat necessarily has to taken a turn around the water skier to drag the tow rope into a position where he can again grasp the handle with his hands. All this unnecessary delay is quite tiring to a person in the water who is hampered by having water skis attached to his feet.

The main object of this invention is to provide a device which may be conveniently placed in a length of tow rope which will conveniently retain the tow rope in a compact and untangled state while the tow rope is either stored in the bottom of a boat or being played out to a skier in the water.

A further object, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a water ski tow rope attachment which will, when there is no person available to assist a driver of the boat in handling the water ski tow rope, freely feed the tow rope from the attachment while the driver of a boat watches to see when the slack is about to be taken up.

A further object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a device which will help, because of its buoyancy, to keep at least a portion of the tow rope on the surface of the water so that its position while the boat is standing still or moving very slowly may easily be determined by the driver of the boat.

A still further object, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a device which will give an indication to the driver of a boat when he is in danger of fouling a water ski tow rope about the propeller of his boat.

Yet another object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a device, which because of its simplicity and usefulness, will find many ways to assist the water skier.

A still further object, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a water ski tow rope attachment which will lend itself to conventional forms of manufacture.

Yet a further object, in accordance with the preceding 'ice objects is to provide a water ski tow rope attachment which will store the tow rope in such a manner, when it is not being used, to aid in its drying quickly and thoroughly after use, thus retarding deterioration of the same due to the prolonged periods of dampness.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the invention placed in the water ski tow line approximately 8 feet behind the boat to which it is attached;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the invention shown placed in the water ski tow rope, with parts of tow rope being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the invention shown with that portion of the tow rope between the attachment and the handle partially in position upon the attachment;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail view of the lower end of the attachment as seen in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the device as seen in FIGURE 6 with a portion of the swinging loop on that end of the attachment shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIGURE 5, a portion of the attachment being broken away.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the water ski tow rope attachment comprising the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10, and is shown placed in the tow rope line which is generally designated by the reference numeral 12. The tow rope 12 is secured at one end to an outboard motor 14 in any convenient manner which is mounted on the transom of a motor boat 16. It is to be understood that the tow rope may be directly attached to the transom of the boat should it be desired. On the other end of the tow rope 12 is a handle 18. Shown secured to the tow rope '12 adjacent the handle 18 for obvious reasons is a float member 20. l

The attachment 10 comprises an elongated cylindrical member 22 having flat end portions 24 and 26 on its opposite ends. Flat end portions 24 and 26 each have an aperture '28 formed therethrough. Secured in close relation through each aperture 28 for swinging movement about an axis extending through the latter is a journalled end 29 of an elongated loop 30. Each of the loops 30 is a closed loop, see FIGURE 3.

Snugly received within each end of the member 22 be fore the ends are flattened, are sealing elements 32 which may be of cork or any other suitable material. The sealing elements 32 are used to seal the mid-portion of the member 22 from the water in which the attachment 10 is to be used thereby making it buoyant.

Each of the flattened end portions 24 and 26 have confronting limits which are so formed to provide a stop surface 33, see FIGURES 5 and 6, so as to allow slightly less than a lateral swinging movement of the free end 34 of each of the loops 30 from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member 22 in at least one direction therefrom so to limit the swinging movement of the loop 32 to approximately the position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The loop 30 so positioned, will form outwardly inclined on each end of the cylindrical member 22 about which the handle end 36 of the tow rope 12 is to be coiled when it is desired to conveniently handle the latter.

Each of the swinging loops 30 are so shaped to retain the portions thereof adjacent the journalled ends 29 in close overlying relation to the opposite surfaces of each of the flattened end portions 24 and 26.

It is to be noted that the preferred way of coiling the handle end 36 of the tow rope 12 about the loops 30 as seen in FIGURE 5, is in a figure-8 fashion so as to pre vent 'a'ny' entangling, knotting or twisting of the rope 12 it is uncoiled therefrom.

Also, when it is desired to store the tow rope 12 for future use, the forward end 38 of the latter may also be convehiently coiled about the loops 30 in overlying relation to the handle end 36 of the rope 12 in any conven ient manner since it is but a short length of rope approximately 8 feet long.

Although the stop surfaces 33 have been formed herein as an integral part of the cylindrical member 22, it is to be understood that any convenient means may be so positioned to form the same function.

In operation, assuming that the entire tow rope 12 has been stored in coiled fashion about the loop as herein described, the forward end 38 is first removed and the free end thereof secured in any convenient manner to the motor 14 of the boat 16. After the skier has put on his skis while still in the beat, it is difficult for those unskilled to do so while in the water, he enters the water. The operator of the boat then places the attachment in the water and gives the handle 18 to the skier and moves the boat away from the skier. When the operator sees that almost all the line has been uncoiled from the attachment 10, he slows the boat until the line is entirely uncoiled from the attachment. Since the forward end 38 of the rope 12 is secured to one of the loops 30, and the handle end is secured to the other loop 30, the attachment, when the rope 12 is taut, is in alignment with the latter and performs as a part thereof. As the rope 12 becomes taut, the skier may then give a signal that he is ready for his ride.

If there is someone in the boat besides the operator, he may hold the attachment 10 in his hand from inside the stern of the boat while the rope is being uncoiled.

Thus, it may be seen that herein described is a water ski rope attachment which is simple in construction and easy to use which will eliminate the undesirable waiting by a water skier in the water while the tow rope 10 is untangled or brought around to him by the circling of the boat should the hande 18 be snatched from his hand because the driver of the boat did not judge the speed of the boat or the amount of slack not yet taken up.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

' What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A water ski tow rope attachment comprising an elongated rigid member, a .pair of elongated arms, means pivotally securing one end of each arm to an end of said elongated member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, the free ends of said arms being adapted to have an end of a length of rope secured thereto wherein two pieces of rope may be secured together with-said elongated member disposed longitudinally therebetwecn}, :stop surfaces on each end of said elongated member limiting the pivotal movement of each-one of said arms to slightly less than from the longitudinal axis of said elongated member in one direction therefrom whereby said arms may be pivoted into contact with said stop surfaces to form a pair of transversely extending, outwardly divergent, spaced arms and about which at least one of said ropm may be conveniently coiled for instant use.

2. The combination of claim 1 including an aperture formed transversely through each end of said elongated member, said arms being pivotally secured through said apertures.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said arms comprise elongated closed loops having an end of each journalled through one of said apertures.

4. A water ski tow rope attachment comprising an elongated rigid member, a pair of elongated arms, means pivotally securing one end of each arm to an end of said elongated member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, the free ends of said arms being adapted to have an end of a length of rope secured there to wherein two pieces of rope may be secured together with said elongated member disposed longitudinally therebetween, stop surfaces on each end of said elongated member limiting the pivotal movement of each one of said arms to slightly less than 90 from the longitudinal axis of said elongated member in one direction therefrom whereby said arms may be pivoted into contact with said stop surfaces to form a pair of transversely extending, outwardly divergent, spaced arms and about which at least one of said ropes may be conveniently coiled for in stant use, an aperture formed transversely through each end of said elongated member, said arms being pivotally secured through said apertures, said arms comprising elongated closed loops having an end of each journalled through one of said apertures, said ends of said elongated member being flattened, said stop surfaces comprising the confronting limits of said flattened ends.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein, said elongated member is hollow and has sealing elements in each end sealing the medial portion thereof from the outside.

6. A water ski tow rope attachment comprising an elongated rigid member, a pair of elongated arms, means pivotally securing one end of each arm to an end of said elongated member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, the free ends of said arms being adapted to have an end of a length of rope secured thereto wherein two pieces of rope may be secured together with said elongated member disposed longitudinally therebetween, stop surfaces on each end of said elongated member limiting the pivotal movement of each one of said arms to slightly less than 90 from the longitudinal axis of said elongated member in one direction therefrom whereby said arms may be pivoted into contact with said stop surfaces to form a pair of transversely extending, outwardly divergent, spaced arms and about which at least one of said ropes may be conveniently coiled for instant use, said ends of said elongated member being flattened, said step surfaces comprising the confronting limits of said flattened ends.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein, said elongated member is hollow and has sealing elements in each end sealing the medial portion thereof from the outside. 4

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated member is hollow and has sealing elements in each end sealing the medial portion thereof from the outside.

9. A water ski tow rope comprising an elongated, buoyant member, said member having an extremity of reduced width extending axially from each end thereof, the junction of each extremity with said member consisting of 'at least one shoulder having its surface lying transversely outwardly of said extremity and upon the end of said member, shoulders at opposite ends of said member at an angle from the longitudinal axis of said member of less than 90, a pair of arms each pivoted to one of said extremities and movable between a position in alignment with said member and a position extending laterally to one side of said member, a length of tow rope secured to each arm whereby the arms and member will join the pieces of tow rope, said shoulders constituting stop means cooperating with said arms and limiting lateral movement of the latter to said laterally extending position with the arms divergent from each other outwardly of said member whereby said tow rope may be coiled upon said arms.

10. The combination of claim 9 including an aperture formed transversely through each end of said elongated 10 6 member, said arms being pivotally secured to said aper tures.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said arms comprise elongated closed loops having an head of each 5 journalled through one of said apertures.

Albin Sept. 7, 1926 Turner July 8, 1947 

